Top 5 Things to do before Listing Your Home

Welcome Buyers – Curb appeal is very important, you want your home to feel welcoming from the moment a potential buyer sees it. Paint the front door, clear any debris blocking the walkway and buy a new doormat. It’s also a good idea to fix any screens, windows, lighting, and roof tiles that need to be repaired or replaced. Removing dead branches from trees, pulling weeds, painting fences and fixing driveway cracks will keep your home from giving the impression that it's gone native. Doing these things may seem unnecessary but it can make a big difference to the buyer’s feelings on the home. Buyers usually drive by a home prior to scheduling a showing so make sure your evening lighting is working correctly.

Make it Shine – Not only does the outside of the house need to look great but so does the inside. Declutter and pack up any items that you don’t have room for in order to make your home look organized and spacious. Put away any pet items such as food bowls, toys, beds, etc. Paint any dark or bright colored walls a neutral color. You want your home to feel bright and calm. Make any repairs that are needed, especially in the main living areas. If all your closets are jammed pack with personal items it gives the prospective buyer the impression the closets are too small. Take half the stuff out of your closets then neatly organize what's left in there.

Make Updates – Update light fixtures, change light bulbs to a color that fits the room, preferably white light, replace fixtures, faucets, and hinges, towel bars, and curtain rods. Little fixes like these can make quite an impact. Bright rooms give the illusion of space and most people like well-lit rooms.

Consider Some Staging – Don’t give the buyer a reason to eliminate your home. Keep decor neutral and classic. Not everyone has the same taste so it’s best to stick with simple. Adding decorative wall pieces, accent furniture, a nice table setting and a large mirror can really help create an unforgettable experience for the buyer. Accessorize with small pops of a consistent complimentary color varying the shade of the same color throughout the home.

Lastly a sensitive subject, smells and odors - Buyers are very sensitive to pet odors, cigarette, cigar smoke, etc. Ask a trusted friend or relative to stop by to check out your home to determine if your home has a distinctive smell. Too much of a synthetic air freshener is also not a good idea as some folks are very allergic to these types of air fresheners and they are actually toxic. Here are some smells that sell! A 2013 study published in the Journal of Retailing by Eric Spangenberg, now the dean of the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California-Irvine, found shoppers spent an average of 31.8 percent more money in a home decor store when it was scented with a simple orange scent, rather than a blend of scents. The study, conducted while Spangenberg was dean of the College of Business at Washington State University, recommends using simple scents such as:

Citrus- Citrus fruits like lemons and oranges smell fresh, and they’re a more durable fruit with longer-lasting scents that are particularly fragrant.

Herbs- Using scented herbs can also bring a refreshing, familiar smell to the nose. Instilling rosemary, thyme or basil in the home when selling, especially in the kitchen, will create a warm and welcoming feeling for buyers.

Vanilla- There is something about vanilla that makes the room feel cozy. Grab a vanilla candle or make your own scent using vanilla beans or extract. You can use almond or mint extract to bring in a fresh scent as well.

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Testimonials

"Hello Gina & Sue, Pat and I Thank you both so much for all your support and Help during the selling process of our much loved Home, as it was a big part of our lives and memories we know this will be the next chapter in our lives with a new home in the future and Pat’s retirement. We know how much work went into selling our home and we Just hope you know how much we appreciated the care and effort you put into every aspect of the process. It was a pleasure to have met you both and glad we had the opportunity to have you as our Realtor. Thank you so much!"